You Suffer When Your Doctors Can't Pay Their Insurance Bills
In the early 1970s, California enacted the landmark MICRA (Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act) legislation to address the state's worsening medical malpractice insurance crisis. By limiting damage awards, MICRA has succeeded in maintaining a medical malpractice system that both protects patients and keeps insurance affordable for providers.
Today, the country is facing a similar medical malpractice crisis. In many states, large jury awards have caused insurance premiums to increase at astronomical rates, forcing specialists to retire or move to neighboring states. The situation has led to severe shortages of specialists such as obstetricians and surgeons, made it increasingly difficult for medical schools to provide insurance to instructors and students, and caused emergency rooms to drastically cut back the number of available doctors. These critical shortages in the health care system lead to increased costs for small-business owners who are voluntarily providing health care for their employees.
NFIB supports H.R. 5, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare Act of 2005. This bill would improve patient access to care by reducing the excessive burdens placed on the health-care system by the liability industry. In July 2005, the House passed this legislation by a vote of 230-194. NFIB considered this a Key Vote for small business.
NFIB also supports S. 22, the Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2006 Act. This legislation was voted on in May 2006 but failed to gain enough votes to overcome a filibuster. NFIB considered this a Key Vote for small business.
